Baseball is a game with many rules and regulations that keep the game running smoothly. Although there are numerous rules in this sport, some of them are more important than others when understanding the basics of the game. When these rules are understood, the intricacies of a baseball rulebook will likely begin to make more sense.
Number of Players
A typical baseball game features nine players on each team. In the field, the defensive team fields a pitcher, a catcher, four infielders and three outfielders. The offensive team sends one batter to the plate at one time, and as many as three baserunners, one at each base, can be on the bases at one time.
Balls and Strikes
In the Major Leagues, the pitcher's mound is 60 feet 6 inches from the plate. When the pitcher delivers the ball, he must deliver the pitch across the plate between the batter's knees and the batter's chest in order to record a strike. He needs three strikes to record an out. A pitch that the batter swings at and misses is also a strike, as well as a foul ball. After two strikes are on the batter, foul balls are no longer counted as strikes. If the batter does not record a hit, and has four balls, that is pitches outside the strike zone, thrown to him before three strikes are recorded, he is awarded first base.
Recording Outs
The main ways that outs are recorded by the fielding team are catching a hit ball before it hits the ground, striking out the batter, touching a base while possessing the ball when a force out exists, and tagging a runner with the ball when he is not on a base. A team needs three outs to end a half inning.
Scoring Runs
In baseball, the objective of the game is to score more runs than the other team by the end of nine innings. This is usually done by getting players on base, either by safely hitting the ball into play without being out or reaching on a base on balls. Another way to reach base is to be hit by the pitch. Once runners circle the bases and touch the plate, a run is scored for their team. If a home run is hit, a ball that clears the outfield fence in fair territory without hitting the ground, that counts as a run for the team. If there are players on base when a home run is hit, those runs count as well.
Innings
A game at the Major League level is nine innings. Each inning features a half inning where each team gets an opportunity to bat. The visiting team bats first, allowing the home team the advantage of batting last. If the home team is winning at the end of the top half of the ninth inning, the game is over. But if the visiting team is winning, the home team has a chance to win the game in their last chance to bat. If the game is still tied at the end of nine innings, extra innings will be required until a winner is decided.
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